Portable tower-platform fire-escape



2 Sheets-Sheet L.

(No Model.)

J., A. & H. VOLZ. PORTABLE TOWER PLATFORM FIRE ESGAPIL:

Patented Nov. 9, 1892.

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I UNITE PATENT OFFICE.

PORTABLE TOWER-PLATFORM FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,039, dated November 29, 1892.

' Application filed August 8, 1892- Serial No. 442,408- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN VOLZ, ADAM VOLZ, and I-IENRYVOLZ, citizens of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Tower-Platform Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to portable towerplatform fire-escape apparatus, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation with the platform lowered. Fig. 2 shows a horizontal section through the lazy-tongs and a plan view of the vehicle-body and swinging braces in their outward service position. Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of the apparatus as it appears when in use. Fig. 4 shows a detail of the raising-gear. Fig. 5 shows a detail of the pivot-bolt used for forming the joints of the lazy-tongs.

The apparatus is mounted on wheels A and comprises a suitable body B, on which are erected four sets of lazy-tongs C, jointed at the lower end to cars a on the body-bottom and supporting a horizontal platform D, which has ears I) on the under side, to which the upper ends of the lazy-tongs are jointed. The bars composing the lazy-tongs are jointed together by pivot-bolts z of the form shown in Fig. 5. The platform D has a railing D around it and guideways 0 extending across it at the middle. A sliding extension-gangway E fits the said guideways and is adapted to slide outward therein and project from the platform. This gangway E itself has longitudinal slideways, and a second extension gangway F fits the said guideways and is adapted to slide outward therein and project from the first-named gangway, thus forming an extension of the same. A third extensiongangway F is fitted in like manner to slideways on the gangway F. A cross-head G is between the four sets of lazy-tongs and has four arms G, one being connected at the outer end with each set of lazy-tongs. A screw-shaft H has its upper end extending loosely through the center of the cross-head Gand a shoulder (1 bearing against the under side of said cross-head. A nut e screws on the upper end of the shaft above the crosshead, and the latter is thus held on the screwshaft so as to move therewith. The said screwshaft fits through a screw-threaded boss I, fastened on the body-bottom and extends downward below the latter. It has a splinegroove f in one side, and a bevel gear-wheel J is fitted loosely on the shaft and has a keyf engaging the said splineegroove. This crownwheel is supported by a bracket K, fastened on the under side of the body-bottom. Two shafts L are mounted in suitable bearings below the bod y-bottom and each carries a bevelpinion M, which engages the bevel gear-wheel J. Each shaft extends beyond the side of the body B and has a crank N on the end for turning it.

The operation of the parts above described will be obvious. Upon turning the crank N the wheelJ is revolved, and thereby the screwshaft H, which raises by working through the threaded boss I, and by its connection through the cross-head G with the lazy-tongs G extends the latter, and thereby elevates the platform D. The platform may in this manner be raised to the desired height, and then the eXtension-gangways E F F run out to form a bridge to the upperpart ofa burning building.

In order to steady the vehicle and hold it immovably in its position near the fire, we provide the following arrangement: Swinging brackets O are hinged at 0 to the sides of the body B, and they may lie alongside and against the body sides, where they will be held by suitable spring-catches 9, (see Fig 1,) or they may be swung outwardon their hinges or pivots and take position at right angles to the body B. (See Fig. 2. There are four of these swinging brackets, two hinged to each side of the bodyone at the forward part and the other at the rear part. Each bracket has a screw-threaded boss h at the outer end, and a screw P extends vertically through the boss and has a knob t' on the upper end for turning it and a footjloose on the lower end. Each screw is long enough forits foot to bear on the surface upon which the vehicle stands.

upon the surface on which the vehicle stands. The said feet being loose, the screws may still be turned after they encounter said surface in order to bind them upon the same. It will be obvious the four screws and brackets thus serve as braces and firmly hold the vehicle in place. The screws may be made to lift the vehicle Wholly from the ground and support it themselves. The lazy-tongs may be made as long as desired by removing the pivotbolts 2 and inserting more bars, and then jointing them again by means of said bolts.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In portable fire-escape apparatus, the combination of a body mounted on wheels,a platform above said body, lazy-tongs supporting 

